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“I had an earful off my dad after the game,” is how Corey O’Keeffe remembers his first appearances in a Blues shirt.

For most of his team-mates the trip to Newcastle in early December had been an forgettable affair.

Hammered 4-0 and mesmerised by Jonjo Shelvey’s masterclass Gary Rowett felt he might as well reward the 18-year-old for his long journey north.

Off came Wales international David Cotterill and on came the boy from Baverstock School for what was supposed to be a quiet final 15 minutes.

But barely 60 seconds after joining the fray Karl Darlow parried Che Adams’ drive and the ball hung tantalisingly in the air for O’Keeffe to head into an empty net.

(Image: BCFC)

He didn’t, the ball looped over the bar and a minute later Newcastle raced up the other end and Dwight Gayle completed his hat-trick.

“It lit up for me - next time I will take it, I promise,” O’Keeffe says.

To be fair to the precocious midfielder that miss is probably the only fly in a rich ointment of an excellent campaign.

Rowett initially recognised his performances and leadership in development games and Gianfranco Zola has kept him part of the first team set-up - making light of the fact this is supposed to be his first season at Under 23 level.